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Conference The Importance of Competition - Lessons from the Past and the Road Ahead 20 Years of Enforcement

Reykjavík, IcelandHarpa – Björtuloft (hybrid) 22 October 2025 12:30–18:30

10/20/2025

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Icelandic Competition Authority, we invite you to an open conference at Harpa on Wednesday, 22 October, at 13:00. The event will also be streamed live

The programme brings together leading experts to reflect on two decades of competition enforcement and to look ahead at the challenges and opportunities for the years to come. Discussions will focus on:

  • Experience with competition enforcement in Europe
  • Future challenges in tackling cartels, abuse of dominance, and mergers
  • The significance of EEA competition rules
  • Balancing domestic competition with global competitiveness
  • The interplay between competition and industrial policy

Agenda

  • 12:30–13:00 Registration & light refreshments
  • 13:00–13:10 Opening remarks - Minister of Industries
  • 13:10–13:15 20 Years of Enforcement – Video presentation (in Icelandic)
  • 13:15–13:40 Keynote I: Dr. Natalie Harsdorf, Director General, Austrian Federal Competition Authority
  • 13:40–14:05 Keynote II: Dr. Páll Hreinsson, President of the EFTA Court
  • 14:05–14:25 Coffee break
  • 14:25–14:50 Keynote III: Dr. Tommaso Valletti, Professor, Imperial College London; former Chief Economist, DG COMP
  • 14:50–15:30 Panel discussion I: : Lessons from European Enforcement: Natalie Harsdorf, Páll Hreinsson, Tommaso Valletti, Páll Gunnar Pálsson
  • 15:30-16:20 Panel discussion II (in Icelandic): Competition in Iceland and International Competitiveness
                       - Halla Gunnarsdóttir, Chairwoman of VR Trade Union
                       - Ólafur Stephensen, Secretary General of the Icelandic Federation of Trade
                       - Breki Karlsson, Chairman of the Association of Consumers
                      - Sigríður Margrét Oddsdóttir, Executive Director of the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise
                      - Páll Gunnar Pálsson, Director General of the Icelandic Competition Authority
        Halla Gunnarsdóttir and Ólafur Stephensen will lead the panel discussions
  • 16:20-16:30 Closing remarks
  • 16:30–18:30 Reception & networking

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